The health benefits of dog walking

Posted on 6 June, 2016

There have been many studies that show that walking is good for your health and a recent study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress[i] suggested that brisk walking for 25 minutes a day can add seven years to your life.

Another study by Cambridge University[ii] found that twenty minutes of walking a day could cut people’s risk of premature death by almost a third.

This is all good news for Britain’s dog owners, as the majority will be out twice a day walking their pooch, come rain or shine.

Those that don’t own a dog can also reap the benefits of regular walking by becoming a homesitter, as many of our clients have dogs.

Homesitters can be on assignment for several weeks of the year and having a dog to walk and take care of is often one of the main reasons they do it.

There are plenty of other health benefits[iii] associated with dog walking too including improved cardiovascular fitness, better muscle tone as well as stronger muscles, lower blood pressure and a decrease in stress.

Stroking a dog is also a good way to relieve stress and lower blood pressure and because dogs offer great companionship this can have mental health benefits as well, including boosting someone’s self-esteem.

If you don’t own a dog but like the idea of taking care of one occasionally, then becoming a homesitter could be the ideal solution.

Take a tour of our website to find out more and meet some of our homesitters who explain why they enjoy the role so much.